Introducing New Hens to the Flock! 🐔

After sifting through thousands of your name suggestions, I'm finally revealing YOUR names for the new epic chickies!
IN THIS VIDEO
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[@tammystoddard2830]

Daylight hours plus stress plus molting. Feathers usually come back fully before they lay again.

[@epichomesteading]

Good tip!

[@SugahShy]

When new birds are introduced, it may negatively impact egg production until everyone becomes accustomed to each other. Shorter daylight hours also reduce egg production. One thing you could try with your broody hen is placing ceramic eggs under her for a few weeks before you bring in new chicks, and then placing your new chicks under her. She'll raise them, teach them and protect them as they grow. It will also give the others time to adjust to the presence of new flock members without all the cliques.

[@lorianderson2008]

Such gorgeous birds! Decreased daylight hours, moulting, and rearranging the pecking order will all cause decreased egg production. I've increased the protein in my birds feed to help them get through their moult faster and their egg production increased slightly. Still, I'm only getting 3-6 eggs per day from 11 hens. My cream legbars have stopped completely for the winter. They'll start again when the days start getting longer.

[@jujube2407]

My neighbor in upstate ny...feeds his birds deer carcasses raw... no insulation, no lights, nothing and they never stopped producing all winter...

[@lorianderson2008]

About half my girls lay all winter, on staggered days. Depends on the breed. I have too many coyotes, hawks, eagles, owls, skunks, racoons, etc. to leave raw meat out! That would sure be nice if I could do that, though. I live right off a highway with a lot of road kill.

[@SunshineCountryChickens]

OMG Cutest chickens most epic hens ever!!!! Shorter days and molting season, even if they arent showing signs of molting. Ive been giving extra sunflower and flax seeds for extra nutrition during molting

[@epichomesteading]

Agreed!

[@GeorgeLucas1138]

I give my chickens a custom scratch grain mix that's almost 50% sunflower seeds. The quality of the manure from this is top tier and they love it.

[@SunshineCountryChickens]

Are you giving them sunflower hearts? Where do you get those, ive been getting whole seeds from Amazon, the hearts are a bit expensive @@GeorgeLucas1138

[@unnamed2737]

My chickens just did the same thing, slowed way down to almost no eggs at all. Lasted for about a month. Now they are laying an egg a day each again. It is the transition from summer to fall that causes it but not the temp, it’s the change in daylight hours.

[@meanderingsofavengaard7732]

For the layers, while temps do matter, it's more the hours of light. If they are feeling slightly lower temps and aren't getting at least 12-14 hours of light then egg production slows down. The girls need a rest too. :) They also slow down during molting as well.

[@galeharris6696]

Change of season, more cool, a bit of molting, and ANY change in a chicken culture such as adding new chickens, moving older birds, whatever will rock the egg laying boat. Also, I hate to mention this--do you have any snakes? Large snakes love eggs, and will hang out in a hen house, and chug eggs...good luck with your new and older chickies.

[@CreaticityIsLife]

They might be slow molting - that's what mine are doing. They replace their feathers over a longer period of time, as opposed to a hard molt, where they lose a lot of feathers at once. It's actually easier on the birds to slow molt, because it takes a lot of energy to grow all those feathers at once, but the down side is that they stop laying for longer.

[@michaelwhitmore5259]

I look forward to 'Epic Carpentry' and 'Epic Brewing'!

[@epichomesteading]

Coming soon...

[@mckennapersinger2445]

@@epichomesteading 8:23

[@sunnstarfarm7693]

For optimal laying chickens need 14 hours of sunlight. Plus when they start to molt in the fall it slows down production because all of their energy goes to producing feathers. Up the protein quantity during the fall and winter to help increase egg production. You can also do supplemental lighting on the inside of your coop to lengthen the the day. I personally don't do this because I feel my hens deserve to have their break in the fall and winter.

[@KarIiah]

These hens are all so gorgeous! Growing up, I only ever saw the 'boring/default' white and thin hens around the neighborhood. The feathers of yours are gorgeous.

[@myurbangarden7695]

Leghorns are good egg layers.

[@catiepower3550]

Guchi was a beautiful bird.

[@GeorgeLucas1138]

Chicken keeper here: I have also seen a very similar decrease in egg production. This time last year I was receiving 4-5 eggs per day from 6 hens. Right now im seeing 2 eggs MAX a day and usually only 8 a week total. I also dealt with severe broodiness so Id be curious to discuss how similar our situations were with that. Also on the same vein as you, I reintroduced my new hens in roughly the same timeline as you as well. Its ERIE how similar our situations are. The clicks are very distinct, however one of my mother wyanndottes switched to be in the new babies click. Chickens are fascinating

[@ozywomandius2290]

I used the run a sustainable farmers market, and as soon as October rolled around, the egg supply would dry up for all the farmers. Some of them said it was the change in daylight hours.

[@dxhambone2247]

We had a hen go broody so we let her keep the eggs and 9 chicks hatched out. We bought an rabbit hutch at a yard sale and set it up right outside of the chicken run as a brooder with mama in it. They were there for about a week or so and yesterday we moved it into the run but we also let the chicks run around inside the run and had no issues with the rest of the flock pecking them.

[@AdventureswithLycanmyGSD]

I have been keeping chickens in my backyard for over 10 years now. Autumn as it gets colder the chickens molt and will not lay eggs as all that protein is needed to grow new feathers. You may have one hen that will still lay occasionally but expect to have no eggs over winter. Chickens are dependent on the light of the season - winter has less light hours than summers. the longer the day light in summer the more eggs you get but in winter there is less light so therefore less or no eggs. I may be wrong but your Black Australorp looks like a rooster. If it is do not panic as they are usually gentle birds. If you ever end up with an agro roo then you can easily tame them: What I do: As they rush me to attack me I swoop them up into my arms and cuddle them while walking them around the garden. Usually they do not like this much and by the 3rd attack they rethink and avoid you coz they do not want to be picked up and cuddled. I also bring loads of high value snacks that the roos appreciate, calling their girls to come and eat the snacks. I love chickens.

[@Michellegrows]

You mentioned molting. Chickens usually slow down laying during a molt. So, it could be that combined with a little stress from the new additions. It should work its way out soon. Nothing to worry about.

[@patriciamathis7042]

It's not the temperature that affects your egg layers it's the shorter daylight hours. Also new layers will normally lay over the winter but the older hens may stop completely,then start again in the spring.

[@tambrasmith9707]

I like the way you wrapped the roosting bars … give them more protien , put a light in the coop for more eggs😊

[@AJsGreenThumbLLC]

Beautiful new birds and the names are epicly hilarious Kevin! Mines are starting to molt to and man they look scraggly!😝

[@AnyKeyLady]

Such beautiful ladies! I love how they each have their own unique colours and personalities! So glad the younger ones have someone like loaf to look after them. We could all do with someone like Loaf in our lives! You should totally do some kind of art piece with any feathers as they drop or a dream catcher. To turn a Technoblade fan coin - "Gucci Never Dies". Not that i have any deep thought about it but i think it would be fitting that i gave back to the earth by being used under a tree or something. Not too soon of course but you get my drift!

[@prowell9170]

Hey Kevin. I did some research and apparently introducing new hens can cause your layers to "go on strike" in protest. I'm sure they'll get back to normal when they figure out not to peck the hand that feeds them! Hang in there. Love the new girls❤

[@Iluvchknz]

It’s because they are getting less light. Chickens recognize the days are getting shorter. They need 14-16 hours of daylight for good egg production. This and the molting are what’s the cause. It takes all their resources to grow new feathers. I have 6 hens and I’m getting 3 eggs a day and they are all 1st year layers so molting is happening this year. It will start picking back after the solstice.

[@SH-gd9uq]

When my chicks stopped laying I switched to an organic all grain feed and added greens to their diet. This did the trick it took a couple of weeks. Great video. I live in Rio Rancho NM.

[@chickensandgermansheps2662]

I have 22 hens and Im only getting 1 to 2 eggs a day. It's normal around this time of the year for chickens to stop laying due less sunlight. Also chickens are molting, I give my hens extra protein, treats, add probiotics and vitamins to the water as well.

[@Randeb86]

I have five hens, two Buff Orpingtons named Peanut and Butter, one Black Copper Maran named Jelly, one Black Cochin named Lil Bit, and one Plymouth Rock named Domino. You have a beautiful flock, I love your channel!❤

[@ZeeJones-o3m]

Welcome to the new ladies! Names are great and all are so beautiful. One thing I do know about chickens is that they don't lay much at all when moulting.

[@jenniferjsaracino]

They are molting they need the calcium for feathers so they will slow or stop laying. Plus the new bird and seasonal shifts. Totally normal

[@robertmcauslan6191]

Hens don’t mingle until they are all laying. Until the new birds start laying they aren’t actually part of the “pecking” order. They are adjacent to it.

[@mroloff]

I'm sure you have seen the other comments already. But it isn't the temperature, it's the number of daylight hours that determine egg production. Plus molting will slow them down. And, to top things off, introducing new ladies will cause a certain amount of stress. Which will also slow them down. Just wait though, come spring you'll have more eggs than you will know what to do with.

[@shaneroberts353]

As others have said, our chickens don't lay when they are molting, and stress or change will shut them down as well.

[@troxycat]

That's definitely a molt going on. You should see my property, it looks like about 20 chickens exploded all at once lol. Also Cortado is gorgeous!

[@DebraGorsline]

I have 7 hens, all are molting now and no one is laying. This is the time of year that they become lazy slackers. Its due to the shorter days. No worries, they will get back into laying early spring. Also introduced new pullets to my girls this year. Pretty much the same way except we built a small coop and kept it in the garage then when the outside temperatures were more desirable, we moved it into the run with the other coops. Each new flock (usually 3 per year) gets their own house in the run.

[@katiebullis7504]

I am new to chicken owning but I was just told that it's more about light in the fall than temperature. They need about 14 hours of daylight to lay. I just got one of those battery operated Christmas lights on a timer (a little light string) and it comes on at 5am for them and they started laying this week (they were born in March)! Just to be clear - we aren't using heat lamps. It's just a string of little lights to extend the daylight hours for them.

[@forgeddesignslab]

Cross pollinate!!!😂😂 Love the names! Happy Fall mate glad to see it going well so far. 12:12 is that more birdies raised beds I see??😉

[@chrisschiller1163]

If you and Jacques are using the same commercial feed … switch it. Last year a number of chicken production farms caught fire under suspicious circumstances and many farmers in SE complained about chickens stopping egg production. They got rid of the major commercial feed and the chickens started laying again.

[@MsWDWFAN1]

What cute names! Maybe keep the brooder for when Butters broods. Like brooder jail. 😂 Eventually the hens will start to get along. Just takes time. Maybe hens start to slow down laying eggs with the change of seasons. Craig Puchie Johnson looks beautiful! It was your best one yet. Gucci did well.

[@jeannamcgregor9967]

I have heard that laying always drops in volume when they are molting...this from other homesteading channels on YT. Plus of course the lower light levels right now. Some people put lights in the coop to try and counter this, others don't think that's right.

[@yourcopiumdealer3399]

Too bad I missed the naming poll, but I like the names you chose. Once I keep chickens I'll name them something funny too :D

[@bubblesnap]

Tis the season. My hens in the bay area stop laying much in September and start picking back up again in January. Give them a higher protein feed during molting season.

[@zgent181]

Got our hens earlier this year so they just all started laying within the last 2 months, but we had our first day of them all laying an egg yesterday! I’m in Birmingham, AL. Not sure if it’s a climate or them all being early in their laying life that’s making a difference relative to the epic hens

[@michaelearles8025]

Daylight hours usually play a big factor in egg production. They will usually lay right through their first winter, but each season they will slow more and more. As far as cliques are concerned, thats the nature of the beast. Those who brood together always stay close. I have made 4 flock intergrations in the past 3 years to a total of 20 hens, the pecking stops, but they all still stick mostly with their brooder mates. Good chance loaf takes over though, if she decides to theow her weight around!

[@Donna_G]

I don't have chickens; but, I did have several that I raised from hatchlings. Temps are important; but, even in southern CA, I imagine your daylight hours are changing. The amount of light is also important. You can supplement the daylight hours with artificial light. It is important to allow the chickens a rest period so they don't get worn out. You can keep things going as they are and let the hens decide when they are ready to start laying again.

[@jonathanellis-singh2027]

Mine too had a little grouping going on. I introduced my Araucana’s with my pekins and it took nearly a month for them to accept each other. Overall, it seems to me your flock are doing well :)

[@SydneyMorgan1998]

I’ve also read among chicken keepers that certain feeds have been causing a decrease in laying over the last year or two. Once they switched, their flock began laying like normal again

[@Nikki-mx5my]

Such beautiful hens and I love the new names too!

[@user-ot8qn5ui3t]

Hens need 14+ hours of daylight to consistently lay. Add a light source on a timer if you want eggs. Also molting reduces egg production because all the energy is going into growing feathers. Try adding black oil sunflower seeds in a separate feeder for awhile. I had 3 eggs hatch the last week in September, one on my birthday so we named her Lisa, one the next say so we named her Wednesday and the other hatched on a nieces birthday so Alina! Congratulations on your new additions! Watch out for chicken math!🤣

[@Stephanie-jg3ln]

Brian at Next Level Gardening/NL Homestead would be a great resource for future carpentry projects!

[@davinasquirrel7672]

It took a good 5-6 months for my new birds (about 8 months old) to properly integrate with the existing. The new birds had their own pecking order, as did the existing. Previously I had only ever integrated chicks at 16 weeks, so this was my first time at introducing older pullets to the flock. I do not think it worked as well as I thought it would. Will go back to much younger birds next time. My best advice for setting up coop and run - have a system where you can fence them off as part of the design, in years to come new additions will be added, so it is not a one-off thing. My flock is integrated, with some surprising buddies, but also, the previous flock dynamic is still there. A personality thing (I have all different breeds, personalities). Earlier in the integration I used to call them in pecking rank order, but I do not do that now, they just listen out for their names, now more random order. For my girls, they are more pets, and it seems that makes it harder to integrate newbies. A neighbour who just 'has chickens' (no names) never really seems to have much trouble integrating new pullets/hens. So the human (flock leader) element does seem to play a part as well. Another part of the problem was that during the transition, I had to say goodbye to my 10yo alpha a few months into all this, added stress for everyone concerned, and also made the integration difficult (a few pecking order challenges arose after the alpha's passing). So in closing, yes the "see, no pecking" method is the way forward (but for several weeks, not just one week)

[@keikokeket]

A question about the pumpkin - could it be like your tomato experiment? The tomatoes w the fish heads produced the least and in the video you were thinking it was because it took more to break down the fish heads than the other plants. Could that be why the giant pumpkin didn't get so giant?

[@kaywaimama]

I got my chicken a year before you get yours. I chose varieties that was rated as excellent egg layers (300-350 eggs a year). Most of them still lay 1 egg a day now. When they lost their feathers and I still have too many eggs, I was very concerned about their health and just hope they stop laying and grow their feathers instead. 😂 It takes a lot of protein to grow feathers. And I gave them lots and lots of mealworms (2 handful per chicken per day, probably small hands.) Though I use a much cheaper brand. I would clean up those feathers from the coop and the runs though. The first year, I spent a lot of time with the chicken everyday. When feathers are around, they may start eating them, and start picking feathers from other hens. At some point, the picking got really bad that I have to isolate the bully hen. Now, they still pick feathers from one another once in awhile. 😅

[@KathyHoffman-j9q]

They are molting too...that really slows down the laying

[@sandiraven6173]

It’s about light more than heat or cold They could be molting also which would slow down or stop them Very cute birds

[@BushPoppyFarm]

I’m at exactly the same point. I am two weeks into integrating four fall chicks (now 10 weeks old) to my four 9 month old hens. Last night was the first night the big girls allowed the little girls into the coop before the auto door closed. Big progress!! But the two lowest adult hens in the pecking order are still resource guarding. At least no blood has been drawn!

[@MsMeI]

Wednesday is such a good name. 😍😍 My chickens didn't lay last year from September to March even though one is supposed to be a winter layer. 🤷‍♀️ (zone 8b)

[@HowAboutThat345]

Love these vlog style videos! Also the hens are so dang cute

[@Lamer_Gamer-Bub]

Star would've been a great name as well for Manchego because of her beautiful spots!

[@katherinecornette5315]

Oooh! Such beauties! You’re doing a great job with the ladies! We added a couple Americaunas to ours and still have to fully integrate. Beautiful coop!

[@grisespino5342]

Pretty hens, love the names Loaf and Wednesday 🐔🐔🐔🐔

[@kismitj]

re: egg absence, part of it is the change to coop dynamics, there's deffo molt happening-bullying plucking is more along the back and tail region, mine stop laying entirely when molting. and its not the temperature but the length of the day/night cycle that triggers their winter rest period :) they need it for their own health and longevity

[@coolwatyr]

Hi Kevin We have 2 of our OG hens that look rough… their necks were nearly bare. It’s all filling in… little by little. Ours took a while, but they are one flock now. Molting slows egg laying way down. Blessings!

[@davidnorris8852]

North SD county (VC) eggs are abundant on hens from 4/1 & 5/5 '23

[@earthladyadventures5018]

feed your girls black seed oil sunflower seeds or dryed corn to keep their body heat correctly for egg production

[@hardstylzz5024]

I've got 15 hens ISA Browns get about 11 to 12 eggs per day, i feed mine BSF larvae also have trays of greens on hand using wheat and rye grass you can get cheap trays and dollar store, or plant a cover crop next to the chicken coop let them enjoy plus you have fertilizer for next season for that plot.

[@terrivance8750]

Kevin, I realize ya'all have a lot of viewers, many of whom are quite knowledgeable about chickens, which is great. However, it never hurts to put in a quick call to ya'all's vet whenever you're not quite sure if something, i.e. the molting you mentioned, is normal. 😊

[@squashit339]

I'm still getting eggs. My turkeys were semi broody all summer and didn't lay, so they are laying now, I guess to make up time lol. I have some newish chickens and I am guessing they are the ones laying. My ducks lay very well also. Being broody, molting and coop stress can all affect laying.

[@Trailhound79]

Increase in protein helps the molt pass a bit quicker. Egg production always slows or stops w/ less than 14 hrs of light. I put a low wattage led in the coop for my hens and quail, for a couple hrs in the evening. Egg production seems to continue just fine.

[@k9spot1]

“Loaf” Is slaaaaaaaying me 😂😂😂😂😂

[@GeorgeLucas1138]

I LOVE WYANDOTTES. Man I wish I could show you my super cool ones. We have blue laced red wyandottes and I bread the girls with a black ostalorp (on accident) and got some super cool results. We have one perfect little goth baby that we named "Goth Baby" and it looks like an ostalorp in body with all skin being dark almost black , she has her morhers comb, and the feathers being dark grey with black lacing. I call this variation'Batman' wyanndottes although my wife hates that name.

[@reenalthakerar7297]

I enjoy your guys hen video updates. I really liked the name Mascara lol.

[@flowinproductions6416]

Wednesday looks like a total crow. It's awesome.

[@melissac3313]

My 3 yr olds have are also molting. I purchased a bag of Feather Fixer from a feed store. I fill a bowl with it and warm water. They think its a treat😅. Also, cans of tuna and sardines help with a quicker molt.

[@stephanie7352]

I live a couple hours north of you and have 10 hens that are only a year and half old. For the past month I've been lucky if I get 4 eggs a day. So same going on here.

[@terrivance8750]

Kevin, Will ya'all have trouble keeping the long, ornamental feathers on Loaf's feet clean? (BTW, I would have named her "Buffy, the Mealworm Slayer! 😉😂😂😂)

[@WikedBiPola]

My Leghorn and Rhode Island red rule our run, they've plucked feathers from the more submissive birds, think I need blinders for them

[@Prettykittychimi]

Also those are the most gorgeous chickens!!! What in the world!!!!

[@baracuda771]

Hey dude I saw this mod some people were doing to their chicken wire for aesthetics; basically you spray paint the chicken fencing black and it makes it way easier to see through during the day. Might be worth a shot

[@Mr111871]

I am in Jacksonville Florida. Same I have five chickens. Some days no eggs.

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

I just downgraded from 8 hens to 4 and then had two eaten by raccoons. The two remaining are completely lost. They've stopped laying. They're too young to be molting but I'm hoping to get two more so that they can feel like a flock again.

[@murfy6189]

Omg that’s so sad

[@valinajames209]

My hens have backed off the laying as well. I think the less day light and molting has caused the decline.

[@KatWilton]

I've never heard of a "Jubilee Orpington"! How fascinating - she' looks a lot like a Speckled Sussex; I wonder if the two breeds share genetics 🤔

[@Iceycube1404]

Once heard that when you have 7 hens you need a rooster to keep order

[@Thingys-Jill]

That's typical. The daylight hours are less. The sun isn't as strong. They're getting older and so are in a more natural cycle. Mine laid daily (Silies that supposedly lay 2-3 eggs/week) until it got colder. Now I get 1-3 eggs/day. Mine are molting. Anyway, don't worry about it. They're fine.

[@Prettykittychimi]

I’m glad you made this video. I’ve been struggling getting my two new ones to sleep in the coop with the original 3 chickens. I thought after a couple months they would be good but no such luck and it gets colder every day. Maybe I’ll try tonight and wake up early to break up inevitable fights. 😬

[@debbiemelander289]

As an Addams Family fan, I completely approve of Wednesday. Perfect choice!

[@gretabrunswick5566]

@epichomesteading can we see the new chicks now? I’d love to see them as adult hens. Thank you!

[@rpdx3]

“Sentimental pumpkin”… is that what your girlfriend calls you? 😂😉 Cool chickens.

[@Chicken_coop_build]

When hens shed their feathers they stop laying

[@mybelovedchaos]

Whatever Kevin is doing to lose weight seems to be working, I just noticed how much less screen he takes. Grats Kevin, you look great!

[@vickibarana7635]

I'm only getting 1 egg a day and that's it. Haven't seen any yet. I was thinking it was the squirrels but apparently not. I'm only an hour north of you and our weather is pretty close to the same so I really have no idea! Only had the chickens a year longer than you - I've been learning from you all.

[@abbeygann242]

Where did you get cortado from? We’re finally getting chickens and she’s beautiful 🤩

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

Mine are too young to be molting but they stopped laying too. I'm guessing mine is because of trauma after two of my hens were eaten by raccoons. So I'm hoping to get a few more but they still won't be at laying age so it may trigger the other two to start laying again or we may have to go through the winter until they start laying again in January.

[@dapriyejacks7693]

We really need more chickens videos do a monthly update

[@Lola_nella_Roma]

They are beautiful!! 😍

[@FelixTheAnimator]

Mine suddenly stopped laying this week. Turns out they've contracted fowl pox. 😢

[@JLee-pc2vc]

Is there a way to look back and see what hen names we submitted? I think I might have submitted Wednesday, but I can't remember for sure. It's been a while. I'm curious.

[@aimeesgardens]

My chickens aren't laying either. Granted they are only 7 months old but they should be by now, right? I'm in northern California and I don't know if that makes a difference but kinda weird hearing you have the same problem. Also, I feed them locally sourced, organic food

[@Justarandom_guy.]

I got my first batch of 4 pullets, and I thought that the coop was secure until a fox found a small gap under the egg box and some how bit a hole through it, all of them died, two were taken away and 2 were left with their heads ripped off.

[@helenstewart2085]

Have never named my hens, but if you asked me would quickly invent some.

[@chelseawhitaker8496]

People are already saying this, but it's the lack of sunlight that's likely to blame. I have 16 hens and dropped to 4-6 a day so you sound about right!